MONTGOMERY – As the busiest shopping days of the year approach, the Alabama Retail Association is launching a statewide “#ShopAlabama for the Holidays” tour. The multi-city kickoff event is set for Thursday, Nov. 17 through Monday, Nov 21, with stops in Auburn, Dothan, Fairhope, Montgomery, Mountain Brook and Tuscaloosa. Alabama Retail will hold a news conference in each of the six cities in partnership with the local chamber or business association to encourage residents to shop local for their holiday purchases and support the retailers who support their community. The mayors of Auburn, Dothan, Montgomery, Mountain Brook and Tuscaloosa are scheduled to speak at their city’s respective kickoff.
#ShopAlabama for the Holiday Tour Schedule
THURSDAY, NOV. 17
9 a.m. – Montgomery
ISHI Boutique, 10 Court Square
Speakers: Mayor Todd Strange, Montgomery; Lisa McGinty, Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce; Melissa Warnke, Alabama Retail Association
2 p.m. – Auburn
Wrapsody, 112 N. College St.
Speakers: Mayor Bill Ham, Auburn; Lolly Steiner, Auburn Chamber of Commerce; Melissa Warnke, Alabama Retail Association
FRIDAY, NOV. 18
11 a.m. – Birmingham
Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Road
Speakers: Mayor Stewart Welch, Mountain Brook; Dan Bundy, Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce; Melissa Warnke, Alabama Retail Association
2:30 p.m. – Tuscaloosa
Effie’s, 404 Queen City Ave.
Speakers: Mayor Walt Maddox, Tuscaloosa; Al Spencer, Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama; Melissa Warnke, Alabama Retail Association
MONDAY, NOV. 21
10 a.m. – Dothan
Northside Mall, Outside Eagle Eye Outfitters, 3535 Ross Clark Circle
Speakers: Mayor Mike Schmitz, Dothan; Commission Chairman Mark Culver, Houston County; Matt Parker, Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce;
Melissa Warnke, Alabama Retail Association
3:30 p.m. – Fairhope
M&F Casuals, 380 Fairhope Ave.
#ShopAlabama, a statewide initiative of the Alabama Retail Association, promotes Alabama retailers and the contributions they make to their individual communities. Spending your money with Alabama retailers creates a powerful ripple effect and returns the most to your local economy. By shopping locally, you’re supporting your friends and neighbors – the ones who sponsor your Little League teams, donate to your fundraisers and reinvest their time and money into your community. Retail, including food and drink establishments, supports one in four jobs in Alabama and brings in $19 billion, or almost 10 percent of Alabama’s gross domestic product, placing retail in the state’s top four highest-producing industries outside of government.
The Alabama Retail Association represents retailers, the largest private employer in the state of Alabama, before the Alabama Legislature and the U.S. Congress. Through sales of food, clothing, furniture, medicine and more, our 4,100 independent merchant and national company members touch almost every aspect of daily living. Since 1943, we’ve worked to promote what’s best for the retail industry in Alabama. Whether voicing the retail view when public policy is made, educating members about issues that impact them, negotiating rates for benefits and services or communicating the retail story, the Alabama Retail Association and its members are better together.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Melissa Warnke, Alabama Retail Association | 256.338.0621
>> See Also:
Top 10 Facts for the 2016 Holiday Shopping Season in Alabama
Alabama Holiday Sales to Reach $11.4 Billion, ARA Predicts
Originally posted Nov. 10, 2016